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The Professional Service Firm50 (Reinventing Work): Fifty Ways to Transform Your "Department" into a Professional Service Firm Whose Trademarks are Passion and Innovation! (Hardcover)

by Tom Peters (Author) "The starting point of all significant change is mindset..." (more)
Key Phrases: hot groups, professional service firm, surpassing value, Purchasing Inc, David Ogilvy, General Manager (more...)

3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Tom Peters thinks that you can turn you "dept."--be it the HR "dept." or the payroll "dept."--into a professional service firm with the same level of creativity and commitment of the firms we always seem to hear about--McKinsey & Co., Chiat/Day, and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. In The Professional Service Firm50, Peters spells out 50 ways to transform your "dept." into a client-centered, passionate organization. His advice ranges from "Bring in wild and woolly outsiders. E-x-p-a-n-d the box" (no. 27) and "A rabid scheduler is a must!" (no. 32) to "Become a Research & Development evangelist" (no. 35) and "Provide 'project management-leadership' opportunities" (no. 45).

The Professional Service Firm50 joins Peters's Reinventing Work series, which also includes The Projects50 and The Brand You50. Like that of all the titles in this series, this book's presentation--especially its bouncing typography--is distinctive and at times overwhelming. Nevertheless, managers looking to inject new ideas and life into their departments will find lots of high-energy advice here. --Harry C. Edwards

Product Description
Transform white collar departments into "professional service firms" whose sole, powerful asset is knowledge.

Idea: You are boss of a 23-person finance department in a division of a big company. Or, rather, you were boss of the finance department. Now, per our suggestion-model, you are Managing Partner, Finance Inc., a full-fledged professional service firm which is a wholly owned subsidiary of your division.

Goal: Learn from the best professional service firms! Transform your unit! Today, even after re-engineering done well, the "department" doesn't look much like McKinsey, Andersen or Chiat Day. (And that's an understatement!)

Aim, in short: Cool people (call them "talent") working on cool projects with cool clients. The aim redux: A cool Finance/Purchasing, IS, HR, Sales department. Why not?

The cool professional service firm is just that: cool people/talent, a portfolio of cool projects, cool clients. Period. It's only asset -- literally -- is brains. It's only product is projects. It's only aim is truly memorable client service.

So step #1, then, is the organization (PSF) . . . transforming "departments" in which white collar folks work into way cool professional sercie firms adding way cool value by doing way cool "stuff".

Peters discusses making the most of presentations, working with outsiders on market analysis, how to imporve brainstorming meetings, how to develop relationships with clients and get the most out of them.

50 of Tom Peters's trademark insights on how to get the most our of your department.

See also the other 50List titles in the Reinventing Work series by Tom Peters -- The Brand You50 and The Project50 -- for additional information on how to make an impact in the professional world.

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Product Details

Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Knopf; 1 edition (September 21, 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375407715
ISBN-13: 978-0375407710
Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #490,258 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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This item is part of The Reinventing Work Series.

Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
The starting point of all significant change is mindset. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
hot groups, professional service firm, surpassing value

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Purchasing Inc, David Ogilvy, General Manager, Intellectual Capital, Purchasing Dept, San Francisco, David Maister, Tom Peters, White Collar Revolution, Bob Waterman, Jon Katzenbach, Liberation Management

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 19 books:

TRUE PROFESSIONALISM : The Courage to Care About Your People, Your Clients, and Your Career by David H. Maister on 4 pages
In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America's Best-Run Companies (Collins Business Essentials) by Thomas J. Peters on 4 pages
Disney What if? ...Surprising twists to your favorite stories by Christopher Nicholas on page 159
Intellectual Capital: The New Wealth of Organizations by Thomas A. Stewart on page 154
Detroit Lions by C. W. C. Sports Inc. on page 179

See all 19 books this book cites

3 books cite this book:

Harvard Business Review on Breakthrough Leadership by Daniel Goleman in Back Matter
The Project 50 (Reinventing Work): Fifty Ways to Transform Every "Task" into a Project That Matters! by Tom Peters in Front Matter
The Brand You 50 : Or : Fifty Ways to Transform Yourself from an 'Employee' into a Brand That Shouts Distinction, Commitment, and Passion! by Tom Peters in Back Matter

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	58% buy the item featured on this page: The Professional Service Firm50 (Reinventing Work): Fifty Ways to Transform Your "Department" into a Professional Service Firm Whose Trademarks are Passion and Innovation! 3.8 out of 5 stars (18) $13.46
	21% buy The Brand You50 (Reinventing Work): Fifty Ways to Transform Yourself from an "Employee" into a Brand That Shouts Distinction, Commitment, and Passion! 4.3 out of 5 stars (64) $6.38
	11% buy The Project 50 (Reinventing Work): Fifty Ways to Transform Every "Task" into a Project That Matters! 4.1 out of 5 stars (17) $14.35
	6% buy The Pursuit of Wow! Every Person's Guide to Topsy-Turvy Times 3.9 out of 5 stars (27) $10.85

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Customer Reviews

18 Reviews

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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Average Customer Review

3.8 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vintage Tom Peters "Wow"!, September 29, 1999

By A Customer

This book has several potential uses. Although I have worked in professional service firms almost my entire life, I found this book to be a useful reminder of what makes a professional service firm great. Although Tom Peters did not intend this purpose, I think it may be the best use of the book. The second use is the intended one: Turn your internal business department into a professional service firm look-alike. The book will work well for those who have driving ambition to be the best. For those who do not share Peters' passion, this book may seem over the top. Peters is a very qualitative thinker, so it would be easy to misapply his ideas in a way that created a tough work environment that created little benefit. For example, The Dance of Change warns against trying to create new language and culture in an organizational sector because everyone else may think you are weird and ignore you. Peters could create that kind of tension for a group if you followed his advice too literally (he suggests that you use questions like "How can we wow you?" when working with colleagues in the firm). On the other hand, Peters is at his best when he is a little off-the-wall because he makes you think. There are plenty of references to outstanding books, and he is really trying to create a picture of perfection. That is helpful, because most business books simply share dated information about past best practices. As someone who helps executives design simple, effective approaches to perfection, I applaud the effort. Peters would do well to accommodate other perspectives. Being totally committed to work and perfection through maximum effort often does not appeal to people as a permanent life style. What should the other people do? If you are an ambitious MBA who wants a mentor, you could do a lot worse than adopt this book as your guide. If you want balance in your life, you had better read Life Strategies as well. Keep up the good work, Tom Peters!

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars As always with Peters, 80% Filler, 20% Epiphany, September 23, 1999

By A Customer

OK, I concede Tom Peters has some wonderful ideas and observations, but does anyone else struggle with this new free form writing style he's migrated to? Wow ... but REALLY? necessary (Or?) appropriate?!? Also, Tom Peters' using the term "Phat" in a business writing reminds me a little of when my dad would come into a room of me and my friends and ask what we "dudes" were "grooving" on - a little awkward. Come on Tom, it's ok to be past 45! It's no 'dis, Homey!

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tom Peters Puts The Wow! Back Into Work!, April 14, 2000

By	Professor Donald Mitchell "Jesus Makes Me a P... (Boston) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

This book has several potential uses. Although I have worked in professional service firms almost my entire life, I found this book to be a useful reminder of what makes a professional service firm great. In fact, this is much more useful than The McKinsey Way (a book about Tom's original firm). Although Tom Peters did not intend this purpose, I think it may be the best use of the book. The second use is the intended one: Turn your internal business department into a professional service firm look-alike. The book will work well for those who have driving ambition to be the best. For those who do not yet share Peters' passion, this book may seem over the top. Peters is a very qualitative thinker, so it would be easy to misapply his ideas in a way that created a tough work environment that provided little benefit. For example, The Dance of Change warns against trying to create new language and culture in an organizational sector because everyone else may think you are weird and ignore you. Peters could create that kind of tension for a group if you followed his advice too literally (he suggests that you use questions like "How can we wow you?" when working with colleagues in the firm -- that may work if you politely ask the person first if you may ask them an unusual question). On the other hand, Peters is at his best when he is a little off-the-wall because he makes you think. There are plenty of references to outstanding books, and he is really trying to create a picture of perfection. That is helpful, because most business books simply share dated information about past best practices. As someone who helps executives design simple, effective approaches to perfection, I applaud the effort. Peters would do well to accommodate other perspectives. Being totally committed to work and perfection through maximum effort often does not appeal to people as a permanent life style. What should the other people do? If you are an ambitious MBA who wants a mentor, you could do a lot worse than adopt this book as your guide. If you want balance in your life, you had better read Life Strategies as well. Keep up the good work, Tom Peters! I hope you keep challenging us!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Tom Peters!
In his unique style, Tom Peters adresses the vision for any organization that can be considered a professional service firm (PSF). Read more

Published 12 months ago by N. S. Rothman

2.0 out of 5 stars unreadable
I was truly annoyed by his random writing style and the book's lousy layout. Look at the cover---the inside is just as chaotic. I bailed after 15 pages or so. Read more

Published on October 9, 2006 by motor city

1.0 out of 5 stars good information but hard to dig out
Unfortunately one of the worst books I have ever read (certainly the worst layout).

Whilst there is some valuable information contained in the text, the bizarre writing style... Read more

Published on August 19, 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended!
Tom Peters takes this book's role in the "Reinventing Work Series" seriously. He urges corporate departments, such as human resources and accounting, to reinvent themselves as... Read more

Published on July 9, 2001 by Rolf Dobelli

5.0 out of 5 stars Typical Peters
If you never read another line of text in your life, turn to page 169 of this book and read the last sentance.

Learn it, live it, and you'll be set for life.

Published on June 19, 2001 by Soren B. Jacobsen

5.0 out of 5 stars Motivation
This may be stream of thought, this may be disjointed, this maybe is a collection of things that someone or other has come across before, and this just might not be the last word... Read more

Published on March 4, 2001 by Martyn Richard Jones

5.0 out of 5 stars Tom Peters at his best!
Since I had totally loved the "Circle of innovation", I was anxious for Tom Peters to release his series of "50" books. I wasn't dissapointed! Read more

Published on November 1, 2000 by Martin Bergeron

1.0 out of 5 stars Beat poetry with business terms
I read this book mostly in disbelief and with a continually growing sense of anger. Basically, I could not get past the four things that I found offensive about it:

1) The... Read more

Published on June 12, 2000 by Edward Sunder

1.0 out of 5 stars Tom Peters Unplugged
I am a big fan of Peters. This book is not Peters at his best. Actually, this can only be called a book because it has a front and back cover and pages in between. Read more

Published on June 1, 2000 by Tony K Morgan

1.0 out of 5 stars Not For Everyone
I gave this book to 45 participants in an innovative leadership training class as a pre-reading exercise. Read more

Published on May 15, 2000 by Carol Twyman

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